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| UN chief demands Gaza ceasefire | UN chief demands Gaza ceasefire |
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| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for an immediate end to fighting in the Gaza Strip during a meeting of the UN Security Council in New York. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for an immediate end to fighting in the Gaza Strip during a meeting of the UN Security Council in New York. |
| Mr Ban criticised both Israel for its bombardment of Gaza and Hamas for firing rockets into Israel. | Mr Ban criticised both Israel for its bombardment of Gaza and Hamas for firing rockets into Israel. |
| Israel says it has agreed to set up a humanitarian corridor to allow aid into the Gaza Strip. | Israel says it has agreed to set up a humanitarian corridor to allow aid into the Gaza Strip. |
| On the ground in Gaza, explosions were heard through the night. Israel says it carried out more than 30 air strikes. | |
| Mr Ban urged Security Council members to act "swiftly and decisively to put this crisis to an end". | Mr Ban urged Security Council members to act "swiftly and decisively to put this crisis to an end". |
| Gaza offensive - in mapsGaza humanitarian crisis deepensIn pictures: Gaza casualties mount | Gaza offensive - in mapsGaza humanitarian crisis deepensIn pictures: Gaza casualties mount |
| "We need urgently to achieve Palestinian unity and the reunification of Gaza with the West Bank within the framework of the legitimate Palestinian Authority," he added. | "We need urgently to achieve Palestinian unity and the reunification of Gaza with the West Bank within the framework of the legitimate Palestinian Authority," he added. |
| The UN also heard a French-Egyptian ceasefire proposal, backed by the US and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. | |
| More than 600 Palestinians are now believed to have been killed since Israel began its offensive 11 days ago. Palestinian health ministry officials say at least 195 children are among those killed. | More than 600 Palestinians are now believed to have been killed since Israel began its offensive 11 days ago. Palestinian health ministry officials say at least 195 children are among those killed. |
| An Israeli attack on Tuesday on a school building, which Israel says was sheltering militants, left at least 30 people dead and 55 injured, UN officials say. | An Israeli attack on Tuesday on a school building, which Israel says was sheltering militants, left at least 30 people dead and 55 injured, UN officials say. |
| Israel, which has vowed to reduce rocket attacks from Gaza on its territory, has lost seven soldiers on the ground. Four people within Israel have been killed by rockets. | Israel, which has vowed to reduce rocket attacks from Gaza on its territory, has lost seven soldiers on the ground. Four people within Israel have been killed by rockets. |
| In another development, Venezuela ordered the expulsion of Israel's ambassador in protest at the Gaza offensive and its "flagrant violations of international law". | In another development, Venezuela ordered the expulsion of Israel's ambassador in protest at the Gaza offensive and its "flagrant violations of international law". |
| Support for truce | Support for truce |
| The ceasefire plan proposed jointly in New York by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and French President Nicolas Sarkozy would bring together all the main parties and take all measures to end the conflict in Gaza. | The ceasefire plan proposed jointly in New York by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and French President Nicolas Sarkozy would bring together all the main parties and take all measures to end the conflict in Gaza. |
| GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND Profile: Gaza StripWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps | GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND Profile: Gaza StripWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps |
| The plan envisages the resumption of the delivery of aid to Gaza and talks with Israel on border security, a key issue for Israel as it says Hamas smuggles its rockets into Gaza via the Egyptian border. | The plan envisages the resumption of the delivery of aid to Gaza and talks with Israel on border security, a key issue for Israel as it says Hamas smuggles its rockets into Gaza via the Egyptian border. |
| Welcoming the proposal, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for a "ceasefire that can endure and that can bring real security". | Welcoming the proposal, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for a "ceasefire that can endure and that can bring real security". |
| The contours of a possible diplomatic agreement are in place, the BBC's Laura Trevelyan reports from the UN. | The contours of a possible diplomatic agreement are in place, the BBC's Laura Trevelyan reports from the UN. |
| However, if Israel continues to control the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and can choose to stop it at any time this seems unlikely to command the support of Hamas, she notes. | However, if Israel continues to control the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and can choose to stop it at any time this seems unlikely to command the support of Hamas, she notes. |
| Thus frenetic diplomacy in New York and in the Middle East is likely to continue. | Thus frenetic diplomacy in New York and in the Middle East is likely to continue. |
| Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gabriela Shalev, did not say whether Israel would accept the proposal but said it would take it "very, very seriously". | Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gabriela Shalev, did not say whether Israel would accept the proposal but said it would take it "very, very seriously". |
| Israel has proposed suspending attacks in specified parts of Gaza to allow people to stock up on essential goods. | Israel has proposed suspending attacks in specified parts of Gaza to allow people to stock up on essential goods. |
| The military will open up "areas for limited periods of time, during which the population will be able to receive the aid", the office of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said. | The military will open up "areas for limited periods of time, during which the population will be able to receive the aid", the office of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said. |
| Andrew Whitley of the UN relief agency told the BBC that any relief in the conditions of the people of Gaza could only be a good thing: | Andrew Whitley of the UN relief agency told the BBC that any relief in the conditions of the people of Gaza could only be a good thing: |
| "People have been weakened by 18 months of blockade and siege. They've been getting very little food, electricity or heat for a long time, and so they are in a very weakened condition." | "People have been weakened by 18 months of blockade and siege. They've been getting very little food, electricity or heat for a long time, and so they are in a very weakened condition." |
| School carnage | School carnage |
| UN officials have said that the al-Fakhura school in the Jabaliya refugee camp was being used as a refuge for hundreds of people when it was hit by Israeli shell-fire. Advertisement | |
| BBC correspondent visited a school under fire in Gaza on Tuesday | BBC correspondent visited a school under fire in Gaza on Tuesday |
| The Israeli military said its soldiers had come under mortar fire from Hamas militants inside the school. A spokesman for Hamas denied there had been any hostile fire coming from the school. | The Israeli military said its soldiers had come under mortar fire from Hamas militants inside the school. A spokesman for Hamas denied there had been any hostile fire coming from the school. |
| In all, at least 70 Palestinians and five Israeli soldiers were killed on Tuesday. | In all, at least 70 Palestinians and five Israeli soldiers were killed on Tuesday. |
| Israel says its offensive is stopping militants firing rockets but at least five hit southern Israel on Tuesday, injuring a baby. | Israel says its offensive is stopping militants firing rockets but at least five hit southern Israel on Tuesday, injuring a baby. |
| Casualty claims in Gaza cannot be independently verified. Israel is refusing to let international journalists into Gaza, despite a supreme court ruling to allow a limited number of reporters to enter the territory. | Casualty claims in Gaza cannot be independently verified. Israel is refusing to let international journalists into Gaza, despite a supreme court ruling to allow a limited number of reporters to enter the territory. |
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